The double world champion aside, lap times were close; One-second covering the next twelve riders, led by Ducati's Andrea Iannone. The Italian helped put last Sunday's disaster behind him by edging out Suzuki's Maverick Vinales and top satellite rider Scott Redding (Pramac Ducati).

Reigning champion Lorenzo and Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi were the final riders to lap within one-second of Marquez, Rossi left shaking his head after a mistake on his final lap robbed him of a higher position.

All riders were using a new soft Michelin rear, with a new medium due to arrive tomorrow morning - last minute changes being made in response to last weekend's troubles in Argentina.